Driving mechanism for bicycles



- (No Model.)

A. PAPPARDAKES. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BIGYOLES.

No. 595,579. Patented'Deo. 14, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW PAPPARDAKES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,579, dated December 14, 1897. Application filed April 17, 1897. Serial No. 632,534. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW PAPPARDAKES, a subject of George I, King of Greece, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved driving mechanism for bicycles, and has for its object to multiply the speed of the drivingchai'n wheel, so that it will rotate faster than the crank-axle by which it is driven, and hence increase the speed of the bicycle by using less power.

To this end my invention consists in the driving mechanism constructed and operating as hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim. 1

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts in both figures, Figure 1 is a transverse section upon line A B Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved'driving mechanism, with a fragmentary View of the bicycle-frame.

The numeral 1 designates the crank-axle, journaled in the box 2 at the lower part of the bicycle-frame, and upon either end of which are the pedal-cranks 3 3. Integral with the crank-axle 1 is the spur-gear 4, which meshes into the integral pinion 5 and drives the gearshaft 6, j ournaled in the upright frame-bar 7. A spur-gear 8 is rigidly secured to the gearshaft 6 upon the side of the frame opposite to the pinion 5. The chain-wheel 9 and the pinion 10 are integral and journaled upon the outside of the bearing-box 2.

The operation of my improved mechanism is as follows: The crank-axle 1 is rotated in the common way by foot-power applied through the cranks 3 3, and the gear 4, which meshes into the pinion 5, drives the gear-shaft 6 at a speed increased in proportion to the sizes of the gear and pinion, respectively. The increased speed imparted to the gear-shaft 6 is multiplied again in the chain-wheel 9by1neans of the driving-gear 8 and the pinion 10. It

is understood that the chain-wheel is connected to the wheel of the bicycle by a suitablechain in a manner well known to the art.

To illustrate the manner in which the speed is multiplied, we will consider that the proportion of the gears is as ten to one. Therefore the gear-shaft would rotate ten times while the crank-axle was rotating once and the chainwheel would rotate ten times while the gearshaft was rotating once, so that the speed of the crank-axle has been multiplied in the speed of the crank-wheel in the proportion .Of one hundred to one.

A balance-wheel 11 is secured to the gearshaft 6 adjacent to the pinion 5, so as to counteract the weight of the chain and chainwheel upon the opposite side of the machine. This wheel can be discarded in some cases; but I prefer to use it, so as to secure a more perfect equilibrium.

The gear 4 and pinion 5 can be made independent of the axle 1 and gear-shaft 6, respectively, within the spirit of my invention.

It will be readily seen that a person can acquire a greater speed with this driving mechanism by a less number of crank revolutions than is possible by the common methods now in use. Hence a person riding a bicycle can cover a greater distance with less exertion than heretofore.

It is obvious that there are minor changes that can be made within my invention, and I wouldtherefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fall fairly within the spirit and scope of my invention; but

What I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination with a bicycle-frame provided with an outwardly projecting boss forming both an inside and an outside bearing, of the crank-axle mounted in the inside bearing of said boss and carrying the gear 4, gear-shaft 6 carrying the pinion 5, balancewheel 11 and gear 8, and chain-wheel 9 supported upon the outside bearing of said boss and carrying pinion 10, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence. of two witnesses.

ANDREW PAPPARDAKES.

Witnesses:

EDWIN M. CLARK, GEORGE E. HALL. 

